Edward Glaeser delivers a compelling, data-driven defence of urban density as the most efficient and dynamic way to organise human life. Rejecting the anti-urban sentiment that often dominates public discourse and planning, Glaeser argues that cities—when well-designed—are not only engines of innovation and economic prosperity, but also catalysts for sustainability, social mobility, and better public health. Drawing on research across economics, sociology, and urban history, he shows how cities concentrate talent, reduce environmental impact per capita, and enable upward mobility, particularly for the poor. Cities succeed, he claims, because they maximise face-to-face interaction, which remains irreplaceable despite digital communication. Glaeser is particularly critical of low-density suburban sprawl and over-regulation, which he sees as barriers to affordability and equity. He identifies policies such as restrictive zoning and height limits as culprits in creating housing crises and excluding working-class populations from urban opportunity. Instead, he advocates for ‘smart density’—compact, walkable neighbourhoods with diverse housing, robust transit, and strong civic institutions. While recognising the challenges posed by congestion, pollution, and inequality, he maintains that the solution lies not in dismantling cities, but in making them more inclusive and better governed. His narrative spans global contexts, from the slums of Mumbai to the towers of Manhattan, emphasising that urban success is a question of accessibility, flexibility, and openness to growth. Glaeser’s contribution is significant for reframing urban density not as a problem, but as a solution to the 21st century’s most pressing issues—from climate change to economic resilience. For advocates of walkability, his argument reinforces the idea that dense, human-scaled cities support not only individual well-being but also planetary health. He elevates walkable urbanism from a lifestyle preference to a structural imperative.
Glaeser, E. (2011) Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier. London: Macmillan.
